Death On The Pitch

By Anifowose George

The late Endurance Idaho

Like most footballers, Endurance Idaho departed the shores of Nigeria with high ambitions- become a great footballer, earn megabucks and force his way into the country’s national soccer team. After a successful domestic career with Dolphins F.C of Port –Harcourt ( joint-top scorer in 2003), it wasn’t surprising when Sudanese club El-Merreikk came calling.

Endurance Idaho made the fairy tale move from Dolphins to El-Merreikh in 2006, he was loaned to Al-Nasser of UAE for one season and upon returning, became a key figure in the first team squad scoring over 67 goals, leading the club to their first CAF confederation cup final since 1989.

However when the prospects of attracting the big European clubs was staring him in the face, death crept in suddenly to stall a promising career and cut a prime life short. During Saturday’s Sudanese Premier League match-up between El-Merriekh and Al-Amal, Nigerian-born forward Endurance Idahor was rushed to hospital after a challenge from a fellow player left him on his back, unable to breathe.

Despite the teams’ efforts to see that the striker was treated as quickly as possible, the 23-year-old was said to have passed away inside the ambulance on the way to the hospital.

Endurance Idaho, a former under 23 international has thus joined a list of footballers who have lost their lives while playing the round leather game. On August 12, 1989, Samuel Okwaraji collapsed and died during a world cup qualifying game between Nigeria and Angola; on June 26, 2003, Cameroun mid fielder Marc Vivian –Foe died after collapsing to the ground in the semi-final match of the confederation cup involving Cameroun and Colombia in Lyon; Anthonio Puerta, a Sevilla F.C defender died in the hospital on August 28,2007 after passing out on the pitch.